Electric warmer for the feet



Dec. 22, 1925. 1,566,987

L. SIMMONS ELECTRIC WARMER FOR THE FEET Filed May 19, 1925 2Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 22, 1925' SIMMONS ELECTRIC WARMER FOR THE FEET 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 19, 1925 [72 72? oarsmniiw Patented Dec. 22,1925.

UNITED STATES LEO SIMMONS, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

ELECTRIC WARMER FOR THE FEET. K

Application filed May 19, 1925. Serial No. 31,356.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEO SIMMONS, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, and a resident of Washington, District of Columbia, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in and Relating to ElectricWarmers for the Feet, of which the following is a specification.

This invention provides a unitary electric means for simultaneouslywarming both feet of an individual, such as a patient, in home orhospital; and the objects and nature of the invention will be readilyunderstood by those skilled in the art in the light of the followingexplanations of the accompanying drawings that illustrate what I nowbelieve to be the preferred mechanical expression or embodiment of myinvention from among other forms, constructions and arrangements aunitar within the spirit and scope thereof.

It is an object of the invention to provide structure, to receive bothfeet, .provide with electric resistance heating means simultaneouslyapplying pleasant healthful warming heat to the feet.

With this and other objects in view, my

- invention consists in certain novel features in construction and incombinations and arrangements as more fully and particularly set forthand specified hereinafter.

Referring to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof:

' Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 2 shows the same in bottom plan, with the bottom facing sheetremoved and parts broken away.

Fig. 3 is a cross section.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section.

I provide a pair of housings of receivers for the feet of a human beingand if so desired such housings can be formed to partially receive orenclose the ankles, and these housings are provided with electricresistance heat generating means designed togenerate a pleasant bloodcirculating temperature within said housing, say a temperature of about100 F. more or less, although I do not wish to so limit my invention.The circulation when thus stimulated by a pleasant healthful heat willdisseminate such heat throughout the body.

One phase of the problem was to prevent the generation of an injuriousor uncomfortably high temperature within the housings, by reason, forinstance, of the use of heat generating means embodying an in sufficientlength of resistance wire, or by reason ofthe failure -to .provide forradiation or escape of surplus heat at theexterior of, say, the soleportions of the housing or housings for the heat. The space within thesole portion of a foot housing that can be'utilized to receive a heatingpad is limited, particularly if provision is made to permit someradiation or escape of heat at the exterior of such sole portion. I havefound by use and experimentation, that a length of the fine asbestoscovered pad wire of commerce, from about twelve feet to about sixteenfeet long, is required to generate and maintain the circulationstimulating pleasant warmth that I desire. There is not sufficient spacein the sole portion of a foot housing to receive a flat coil of suchresistance Wire twelve to sixteen feet in length. I have solved thisdifliculty by forming the approximately required length of thepeculiarly covered resistance wire into twin coils or pads, each made upof, say, approximately one half the len th of wire (say,'each made up ofseven eet of wire more or less), and locating the coils in the soleportions of the housings, respectively, with both coils in the onecircuit to act electrically as a single length of resistance wire,although I do not wish to strictly so limit all features of myinvention. The two, or twin, coils thus cooperate to generate the heatto attain approximately the desired temperature at the soles of thehuman feet in the two housings. To permit some escape or radiation ofheat at the exterior of the housings, I preferably locate the fiatheating coils or pads in recesses in or, openings that extend throughthe sole portions of the housings, with a protective facing covering theouter sides of the'coils, thatwillnot absolutely insulate the outersides of the pads against exterior escape of heat or heat exchange. Thisexterior protective covering is intended to permit exterior escape orradiation of surplus heat.

In the particular. example illustrated, I

show a base in the form ofva flat strong flexible plate or sheet'l, suchas a more or less heavy sheet of rubber or the like, fabric, or leather,and upon this base I erect a pair of parallel, more or lessclosely-arranged loose-fitting foot receiving housings or socalleduppers 2, arranged on the upper side of the base. The flexible basesheet 1, is usually cut or otherwise formed toconstitute the main solesof the two housings 2, and these two housings are connected together bythe base sheet 1 which in this example, is in one piece so that said twomain soles are integral, although I do not wish to so limit all featuresof my invention.

The portions .of the base sheet forming said two main soles, haveintermediate openings 1 therethrough, preferably elongatedlongitudinally of said sole portions that form elongated recesses toreceive the flat electric heat generating pads 4: which are set in saidopenings, and secured and confined therein by any suitable inner soles5, of the housings 2, that cover the upper sides of the pads,respectively, and any suitable facing sheet 6, secured to and coveringthe bottom face of the base sheet, and covering the under sides of thepads 4.

Each pad embodies asuitable length of asbestos covered thin flexibleelectric resistance heating wire 7, formed into a flat spiral coilsecured to andbetween opposite fabric facing sheets 8, The opposite endsof the wire 7, extends from each pad to the exterior of, orthrough, thebottom facing sheet 6, and are electrically coupled to the opposite leadin flexible insulated wires 9. The wires 7 of the two coils areelectrically coupled to the opposite lead in wires 9, in multiple tosecure the electric circuit for heat generation. For instance, theflexible cable formed by the two wires 9, extends to the under side ofthe base sheet to a point between the two pads, and one wire 9, iscoupled to the corresponding ends 7*, of the two wires 7, of the twopads, and the other wire 9 is coupledto the two other ends 7 of the twowires 7 of said pads.

The flexible cable formed by the two op-,

posite wires 9, is of any suitable length and is preferably providedwith aplug or other e suitable connection (not shown) for connection toa socket of the power current wiring of a building to establish electricconnection with the lighting system power current. 'Thecable is alsopreferably equipped with a suitable rheostat switch for regulating theheat generated in the. heating pads.

The heating pads are arranged and connected intothe circuit forsimultaneous and uniform heating, and to avoid an excessive orinjuriously high temperature, as a circulation-stimulating, pleasant,healing, warming temperature is what is desired. .1

The separate housings 2, for the feet, mounted on and coupled togetherby the base sheet, are preferably composed of flexible I material, toloosely receive and partially enclose or cover the feet, and hold theheating device.

The heat generated Within the housings by their respective pads,'isapproximately confined within the housings to prevent rapid loss of heatby conduction or otherwise. The housings or uppers 2, are preferably oflarge size, of flexible material, and open and cut low at the rear toreadily and loosely accommodate human feet of any size, even whencovered by slippers and to permit quick and easy withdrawal andinsertion of the feet. The housings are preferably lined with softwoolen or other warm material. The device is particularly intended forhospital and home use, while the patient is. seated on a chair orreclining in bed or on a couch, although I do not wish to so limit myinvention.

The article of this invention is believed to be useful and advantageousin affording relief to those suffering from slow circulatory blooddiffusion or poor circulation, and for other purposes.

It is evident that various changes, modifications and variations can beresorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of my inventionand hence Ido not wish to limit myself to the exact disclosures hereof.

What I claim is:

1. A device for the purposes substantially as described, embodyingseparate large-size substantially open loose housings for the human feethaving a common base sheet provided with electric resistance warmingpads each individually asa unit set down in the sole portions of saidsheet.

2. A unitary structure for warming the human feet embodying a pair oflarge-size flexible open housings or uppers to receive the feet, withpermanently connected sole portions, and heat generating electricresistance wire pads in said sole portions, each pad being individuallycomplete as a unit and embodying an asbestos covered wire'coil and topand bottom facings secured together and to the cord.

3.-A'n electric warmer for the human feet embodying a. common base sheetforming a pair of sole portions equipped with open housings or uppersfor the feet, said sole portions provided with heat generating elec tricresistance Wire pads set down in said sole portions and eachindividually complete as a unit.

4. An electric heat generating device for application to the human feet,embodying a pair of open housings or uppers for the feet, said housingsbeing joined together side by side and having electric resistance wirewarming pads connected together in multiple each pad being individuallycomplete as a unit and embodying an asbestos wire covered coil and topand bottom facing sheets secured thereto.

'5. An electric warmer for the human feet, with therapeutic tendencies,embodying double open flexible receiving inclosures for the human feetand ankles; having a eom- Inon supporting base forming the bottom orsoles of said receiver housings, provided with electric resistance wireheat generating coils, confined in recesses through the base or soles ofsaid housings, with means for connecting same to the ordinary electriclight supply.

6. A warming device for the human feet or other parts, embodying covermeans to hold the same thereto and asbestos covered electric resistancewire of the required length formed into fiat twin coils connected andarranged to be included in the one electric circuit as a single wire,each coil being secured to and between facing sheets to form anindividually complete pad as a unit.

7. A Warming device for the purposes substantially as set forth,embodying sole portions and housings, said sole portions having recessesexposed for exterior heat exchange, and an insulated electric resistanceWire formed into heating coils arranged in said recesses, respectively,said coils electrically connected to act electrically as a single wire.

Signed at Washington, D. 0., this 18" day of May, 1925.

LEO SIMMONS.

